The 1972 Moroccan coup attempt was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco on 16 August 1972. The attempted coup d'état occurred in Morocco when a rebel faction within the Moroccan military attempted to shoot down an aircraft carrying the Moroccan king, Hassan II. The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir, a close advisor to King Hassan. He was assisted by Mohamed Amekrane, commander of the Moroccan air force base at Kenitra.[1] On August 16, four Northrop F-5 jets, acting on Oufkir's orders, intercepted Hassan's Boeing 727 as it returned from France.[2] Reportedly, King Hassan grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.[3]
1972 Moroccan coup d'état attempt
Hassan's damaged Boeing 727 after the 1972 Airmen's coup attempt.
The coup occurred a year after another attempted military coup against Hassan II's regime. 250 rebels based in the Ahermoumou cadet training school attacked the king's palace on his 42nd birthday, killing 91 people and injuring 133.[5] Oufkir had gained power after the coup in 1971, moving from the Minister of Interior to Defence. Many had believed he planned the first coup to facilitate this rise.[6]
Attack
A Moroccan Boeing 727, similar to that involved in the coup
On 16 August 1972, as Hassan was returning to Morocco from a personal visit to France, four air force pilots, flying Northrop F-5 fighter jets, attacked the Boeing 727.[2] The planes shot holes through the fuselage, killing some passengers. One plane broke off, strafing a nearby airfield and killing many on the ground.[7]
Allegedly, the rebel pilots broke off their attack on the king's aircraft after the king himself grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Believing their mission to have been accomplished, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.[3]
Eight passengers on the royal jet were killed and 40 injured, however, the jet was able to land safely at Rabat airport.[4]
Aftermath
Kenitra Air Base, where most of the rebellious air force officers were based, was surrounded and hundreds arrested.[7] Oufkir was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds later on 16 August, ostensibly from suicide.[8][9] Many of his relatives were imprisoned, not being released until 1991, speculated to be because of international criticism for possible human rights abuses.[10] General Amekrane fled to Gibraltar after the coup's failure; he failed to receive asylum and was extradited back to Morocco where he was executed by firing squad.[11]
References
^Miller, Susan Gilson (2013-04-15). A History of Modern Morocco. Cambridge University Press. p. 177. ISBN978-0-521-81070-8. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
^ abThe Air Force role in low-intensity conflict. DIANE Publishing. p. 56. ISBN1428928278.
^ abGregory, Joseph R. (July 24, 1999). "Hassan II of Morocco Dies at 70; A Monarch Oriented to the West". The New York Times.
^ abMorocco: the Islamist awakening and other challenges. Marvine Howe, p. 111
^"1971: Death for Moroccan rebel leaders". BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^Johnson, Peter. "General Oufkir's last interview". The Spectator. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^ ab"Loyal Troops Seize Airfield". Chicago Tribune. Reuters. 17 August 1972. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
^Hughes, Stephen O. (2006). Morocco Under King Hassan. Ithaca Press. ISBN0863723128.
^. Foreign Correspondent. 7 November 2001. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
^"Morocco Frees Coup Leader's Relatives After 18 Years in Jail". LA Times. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
^European Convention on Human Rights Year: 1973. 1975. p. 366. ISBN9024717841. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
External links
December 30, 2022
1972, moroccan, coup, état, attempt, 1972, moroccan, coup, attempt, unsuccessful, attempt, assassinate, king, hassan, morocco, august, 1972, attempted, coup, état, occurred, morocco, when, rebel, faction, within, moroccan, military, attempted, shoot, down, air. The 1972 Moroccan coup attempt was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco on 16 August 1972 The attempted coup d etat occurred in Morocco when a rebel faction within the Moroccan military attempted to shoot down an aircraft carrying the Moroccan king Hassan II The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir a close advisor to King Hassan He was assisted by Mohamed Amekrane commander of the Moroccan air force base at Kenitra 1 On August 16 four Northrop F 5 jets acting on Oufkir s orders intercepted Hassan s Boeing 727 as it returned from France 2 Reportedly King Hassan grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots Stop firing The tyrant is dead Fooled the rebel pilots broke off their attack 3 1972 Moroccan coup d etat attemptHassan s damaged Boeing 727 after the 1972 Airmen s coup attempt Date16 August 1972LocationOver Tetouan MoroccoResultCoup attempt failsBelligerentsMoroccocoup plottersCommanders and leadersKing Hassan IIMohamed Oufkir Mohamed AmekraneCasualties and losses8 killed and 40 woundedHassan s plane which had been strafed by air force jets killing eight and injuring 40 4 landed safely at Rabat s airport Contents 1 Background 2 Attack 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 External linksBackground Edit Hassan II pictured in 1981 Main article 1971 Moroccan coup d etat attempt The coup occurred a year after another attempted military coup against Hassan II s regime 250 rebels based in the Ahermoumou cadet training school attacked the king s palace on his 42nd birthday killing 91 people and injuring 133 5 Oufkir had gained power after the coup in 1971 moving from the Minister of Interior to Defence Many had believed he planned the first coup to facilitate this rise 6 Attack Edit A Moroccan Boeing 727 similar to that involved in the coup On 16 August 1972 as Hassan was returning to Morocco from a personal visit to France four air force pilots flying Northrop F 5 fighter jets attacked the Boeing 727 2 The planes shot holes through the fuselage killing some passengers One plane broke off strafing a nearby airfield and killing many on the ground 7 Allegedly the rebel pilots broke off their attack on the king s aircraft after the king himself grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots Stop firing The tyrant is dead Believing their mission to have been accomplished the rebel pilots broke off their attack 3 Eight passengers on the royal jet were killed and 40 injured however the jet was able to land safely at Rabat airport 4 Aftermath EditKenitra Air Base where most of the rebellious air force officers were based was surrounded and hundreds arrested 7 Oufkir was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds later on 16 August ostensibly from suicide 8 9 Many of his relatives were imprisoned not being released until 1991 speculated to be because of international criticism for possible human rights abuses 10 General Amekrane fled to Gibraltar after the coup s failure he failed to receive asylum and was extradited back to Morocco where he was executed by firing squad 11 References Edit Miller Susan Gilson 2013 04 15 A History of Modern Morocco Cambridge University Press p 177 ISBN 978 0 521 81070 8 Retrieved 2013 05 09 a b The Air Force role in low intensity conflict DIANE Publishing p 56 ISBN 1428928278 a b Gregory Joseph R July 24 1999 Hassan II of Morocco Dies at 70 A Monarch Oriented to the West The New York Times a b Morocco the Islamist awakening and other challenges Marvine Howe p 111 1971 Death for Moroccan rebel leaders BBC Retrieved 27 November 2016 Johnson Peter General Oufkir s last interview The Spectator Retrieved 25 November 2016 a b Loyal Troops Seize Airfield Chicago Tribune Reuters 17 August 1972 Retrieved 27 November 2016 Hughes Stephen O 2006 Morocco Under King Hassan Ithaca Press ISBN 0863723128 Interview with Malika Oufkir Foreign Correspondent 7 November 2001 Archived from the original on 2008 07 25 Retrieved 2013 01 17 Morocco Frees Coup Leader s Relatives After 18 Years in Jail LA Times Retrieved 20 November 2016 European Convention on Human Rights Year 1973 1975 p 366 ISBN 9024717841 Retrieved 25 November 2016 External links EditEt Tu Oufkir TIME Morocco The Almost Perfect Regicide TIME Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1972 Moroccan coup d 27etat attempt amp oldid 1110479374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
